In 1758, a man named Russell Manners Gordon, from Clovelly in North Devon, introduced a new mode of transport to the island of Madeira which revolutionised the wine industry in the area.

The toboggans he took to the Portuguese island were used to transport wine up and down the hills and mountains, saving the businesses in the area time and money.

Today, they are used in one of the many popular excursions that visitors can partake in during their stay in Madeira, where, for a small fee, they can be pushed down – at some speed – down the slopes in that go through the towns.

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You’ll be weaving in and out of traffic, too, which will certainly you’ll give you a thrill as downhill speeds reach up to 20 miles per hour.

The ‘thrill’ is just one of the many emotions that you’ll experience during your stay in Madeira. I alone felt a plethora of feelings, ranging from amazement, pride, excitement and much more.

Madeira Cathedral encompasses all of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (Image: Richard Amofa)

Devon residents now have a chance to experience these emotions too, as, from October people can fly to the Portuguese island from Exeter airport, saving money and time without having to travel from London or further afield.

The new chartered service by Super Break will offer a direct flight from Exeter Airport to Madeira, helping more people access the popular destination than ever before.

You'll be able to see dolphins during the boat trip (Image: Richard Amofa)

The island is well-known for being the birthplace of Cristiano Ronaldo (which if you didn’t know, you’ll be reminded by THAT famous statue of his face as soon as you land at the airport), the five time Ballon D’or and Champions League winner.

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For all of the honours, he will always be remembered by people in the city for being on the receiving end of a nutmeg by Scott Hiley during his one and only visit to St James’ Park.

But enough of the tenuous links.

Traditionally, the island has been popular among the older generation, but it’s now attracting a younger clientele – and with a plethora of activities (and a number of ‘instagrammable’ locations) it’s easy to see why.

After stopping off in the five-star Hotel Pestana Casino Park, equipped with its own casino, nightclub, pool and restaurant, the boat trip is one of the recommended excursions.

You'll have to experience the hustle and bustle of the market in Funchal (Image: Richard Amofa)

Here, you can enjoy a dolphin-watching experience as you cruise through the clear blue sea.

In contrast, you can be taken five-thousand feet up the Madeiran mountains on the enthralling Green Devil Jeep Safari.

An open top 4x4 will take you up the rough terrains that normal cars can’t reach. There you can enjoy the breath-taking scenery which includes beautiful waterfalls.

The Green Devil Jeep Safari Tour is a must (Image: Richard Amofa)

In a continuation of the aquatic theme within what becomes a very green scene the higher up you get, are the levadas - 2,500 miles of mini, man-made canals which bring water from the mountains towards the towns lower down.

The scene overlooking Nuns Valley is beautiful (Image: Richard Amofa)

The fun doesn’t end there, however, as you are taken all the way to the top to the Pico do Arieiro, which, at 5,965ft, is the third highest peak on the island.

The mountainous regions do well to quash people’s perceptions of the island and sheds light on what is, in fact a multi-faceted part of the world.

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Where the mainland is concerned, a standout location is Madeira Cathedral, the first ever to be built in Southern Europe, while it’s imperative that you visit experience the hustle and bustle of Funchal City Centre.